Gainesville’s fire department yesterday denied a permit for a public Quran burning being organized by the city’s Dove World Outreach Center, a self-described “New Testament, Charismatic, Non-Denominational Church,” according to the Gainesville Sun (via the Orlando Sentinel).
The event had drawn the ire of city residents and leaders, and both the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the National Association of Evangelicals have condemned the event. NAE Director of Government Affairs Galen Cary told The Florida Independent that Dove World’s actions were “not in keeping with Christian values.”
According to the Sun, Dove World plans to go ahead with the event, permit or not and could face a fine for doing so. Gainesville Mayor Craig Lowe called the church “an embarrassment to our community” in his comments to the paper.
Update
We’ve obtained a copy of the email newsletter cited by the Sun, and you can read it in full below. It cites serious financial difficulties facing the church:
DOVE WORLD OUTREACH CENTER
needs your support!City of Gainesville denies burn permit – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS
RBC Bank calls in mortgage – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS
Cottons All-Lines cancels insurance – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS
We will proceed with the Koran Burning Event, Saturday 9/11, 6-9pm, as planned.
RBC Bank called in our mortgage with a limited time to pay it off. Now Cottons All-lines Insurance has also cancelled our commercial insurance on our property putting our mortgage in immediate default. We need to raise the $140,000 to pay off the RBC loan immediately.
